Kathleen Middle School

Summary:

Kathleen Middle School is a public middle school in Lakeland, Florida, serving 821 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Polk County School District, which is ranked 57th out of 68 districts in Florida and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Unfortunately, Kathleen Middle School has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of Florida middle schools, also receiving a 1-star rating.

One of the school's major challenges is its high chronic absenteeism rate, which was 42.4% in the 2022-2023 school year, significantly higher than the Polk County average of 33.1% and the Florida state average of 14.5%. Additionally, Kathleen Middle School's test scores are consistently lower than the Polk County and Florida state averages across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, the school's English Language Arts proficiency rates ranged from 26-28%, compared to the Polk County average of 39-43% and the Florida state average of 50-54%. The school also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, at 67.84%, which is significantly higher than the state average.

When comparing Kathleen Middle School to nearby schools within the Polk County district, it becomes clear that the school is underperforming compared to its peers. For example, Berkley Accelerated Middle School has significantly higher test scores, a lower chronic absenteeism rate, and a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Additionally, Kathleen Middle School's per-student spending has decreased over the past few years, from $11,834 in the 2020-2021 school year to $9,292 in the 2022-2023 school year, which may be contributing to the school's challenges in improving academic outcomes.


Detail:

Public 6-8

 3627 Kathleen Pnes
       Lakeland, FL  33810


(863) 853-6040

District: Polk

SchoolDigger Rank:
1061st of 1,196 Florida Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,292 Help


Students who attend Kathleen Middle School usually attend:

High:    Kathleen Senior High School

Feeder schools for Kathleen Middle School:

Elementary:    Dr. NE Roberts Elementary School
    Kathleen Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  18.6 Help
Number of students:  821

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
40.6%
White:
38.2%
African American:
18.0%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  67.8% Help


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 Compare Kathleen Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Kathleen Middle School ranks worse than 88.7% of middle schools in Florida. It also ranks 19th among 26 ranked middle schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 14.3. (See more...)
Help
Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Kathleen Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (40.6%), White (38.2%), African American (18%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 67.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Kathleen Middle School is 18.6, which is the 6th best among 26 middle schools in the Polk School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Kathleen Middle School employs 44 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Kathleen Middle School is $9,292, which is the 9th highest among 26 middle schools in the Polk School District.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Kathleen Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Kathleen Middle School 1061st of 1196 Florida public middle schools. (See Kathleen Middle School in the ranking list.)

Polk:

SchoolDigger ranks Polk 57th of 68 Florida school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Kathleen Middle School?

Rank History for Kathleen Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools FL State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2004 28.60 452nd 593 23.8%
2005 28.46 464th 602 22.9%
2006 31.83 482nd 675 28.6%
2007 28.39 549th 736 25.4%
2008 29.89 550th 740 25.7%
2009 32.81 559th 780 28.3%
2010 27.75 634th 839 24.4%
2011 28.94 666th 891 25.3%
2012 21.30 721st 897 19.6%
2013 28.98 691st 956 27.7%
2014 21.30 812th 999 18.7%
2016 19.29 826th 997 17.2%
2017 16.20 885th 1031 14.2%
2018 22.21 828th 1035 20.0%
2019 25.68 851st 1099 22.6%
2021 16.60 978th 1136 13.9%
2022 20.11 964th 1148 16.0%
2023 15.03 1040th 1177 11.6%
2024 14.30 1061st 1196 11.3%
See the entire list of Florida Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Florida Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Kathleen Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    






Data source: Florida Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

by a student
Saturday, November 5, 2016

Open Quote I love my school it is amazing the teacher and staff are amazing when i was having a hard time my teachers were there for me when i was having trouble the staff was ther kathleen middle school is amazing. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Kathleen Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 848 117 11 11 4 n/a n/a 0 991
1989 865 137 12 12 3 n/a n/a 0 1029
1990 831 131 8 18 3 n/a n/a 0 991
1991 792 148 9 19 0 n/a n/a 0 968
1992 825 163 6 27 1 n/a n/a 0 1022
1993 1024 195 12 40 0 n/a n/a 0 1271
1994 829 131 13 22 0 n/a n/a 0 995
1995 770 173 1 42 0 n/a n/a 0 986
1996 770 173 1 42 0 n/a n/a 0 986
1997 819 176 2 39 0 n/a n/a 0 1036
1998 819 187 3 43 0 n/a n/a 0 1052
1999 786 205 4 39 1 n/a n/a 0 1035
2000 580 139 7 35 1 n/a n/a 0 762
2001 576 160 4 59 0 n/a n/a 0 799
2002 559 155 4 98 0 n/a n/a 0 816
2003 559 155 4 98 0 n/a n/a 0 816
2004 548 156 5 78 2 n/a n/a 0 789
2005 560 162 11 96 6 n/a n/a 0 835
2006 513 150 11 121 3 n/a n/a 0 798
2007 496 165 13 135 3 n/a n/a 14 826
2008 466 142 6 127 2 n/a n/a 21 764
2009 422 132 4 127 3 n/a n/a 19 707
2010 396 142 3 120 2 n/a n/a 17 680
2011 395 155 6 183 6 1 31 0 777
2012 436 156 2 176 6 1 30 0 807
2013 456 185 4 158 5 2 32 0 842
2014 407 177 4 183 8 1 27 0 807
2015 382 163 6 179 10 1 23 0 764
2016 343 153 5 187 6 0 20 0 714
2017 294 134 2 174 5 0 18 0 627
2018 284 125 1 166 1 0 18 0 595
2019 281 156 2 194 1 1 10 0 645
2020 292 182 3 258 0 1 16 0 752
2021 272 200 4 262 0 1 19 0 758
2022 300 156 3 282 3 0 18 0 762
2023 314 148 3 333 0 0 23 0 821

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Kathleen Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 991 48.0 20.6 25.5
1989 1029 48.0 21.4 27.1
1990 991 46.0 21.5 0
1991 968 48.0 20.1 33.3
1992 1022 47.0 21.7 29.8
1993 1271 59.0 21.5 34.1
1994 995 45.0 22.1 36.1
1995 986 50.0 19.7 44.6
1996 986 50.0 19.7 44.6
1997 1036 51.0 20.3 46.9
1998 1052 56.0 18.8 44.6
1999 1035 56.0 18.5 57.4
2000 762 45.0 16.9 58.3
2001 799 52.0 15.4 58.3
2002 816 48.0 17.0 65.2
2003 816 48.0 17.0 65.2
2004 789 48.0 16.4 67.4
2005 835 52.0 16.1 65.1
2006 798 57.0 14.0 66.4
2007 826 60.0 13.8 68.8
2008 764 57.5 13.3 68.6
2009 707 58.2 14.3 72.2
2010 680 48.0 14.1 74.7
2011 777 51.0 15.2 77
2012 807 49.0 16.4 81.8
2013 842 50.0 16.8 79.3
2014 807 45.0 17.9 79.4
2015 764 42.0 18.1 61.9
2016 714 45.0 15.8 64.6
2017 627 45.0 13.9 64
2018 595 44.0 13.5 64
2019 645 44.0 14.6 64.2
2020 752 44.0 17.0 60
2021 758 45.0 16.8 66
2022 762 43.0 17.7 69.8
2023 821 44.0 18.6 67.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Kathleen Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 991 48.0 20.6 25.5
1989 1029 48.0 21.4 27.1
1990 991 46.0 21.5 0
1991 968 48.0 20.1 33.3
1992 1022 47.0 21.7 29.8
1993 1271 59.0 21.5 34.1
1994 995 45.0 22.1 36.1
1995 986 50.0 19.7 44.6
1996 986 50.0 19.7 44.6
1997 1036 51.0 20.3 46.9
1998 1052 56.0 18.8 44.6
1999 1035 56.0 18.5 57.4
2000 762 45.0 16.9 58.3
2001 799 52.0 15.4 58.3
2002 816 48.0 17.0 65.2
2003 816 48.0 17.0 65.2
2004 789 48.0 16.4 67.4
2005 835 52.0 16.1 65.1
2006 798 57.0 14.0 66.4
2007 826 60.0 13.8 68.8
2008 764 57.5 13.3 68.6
2009 707 58.2 14.3 72.2
2010 680 48.0 14.1 74.7
2011 777 51.0 15.2 77
2012 807 49.0 16.4 81.8
2013 842 50.0 16.8 79.3
2014 807 45.0 17.9 79.4
2015 764 42.0 18.1 61.9
2016 714 45.0 15.8 64.6
2017 627 45.0 13.9 64
2018 595 44.0 13.5 64
2019 645 44.0 14.6 64.2
2020 752 44.0 17.0 60
2021 758 45.0 16.8 66
2022 762 43.0 17.7 69.8
2023 821 44.0 18.6 67.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Kathleen Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2018 $1,228 (11.5%) $9,405 (88.5%) $10,633
2019 $1,360 (14.4%) $8,078 (85.6%) $9,438
2020 $902 (7.7%) $10,888 (92.3%) $11,790
2021 $1,103 (9.3%) $10,732 (90.7%) $11,834
2022 $2,117 (21.3%) $7,838 (78.7%) $9,955
2023 $1,623 (17.5%) $7,669 (82.5%) $9,292

Data source: Florida Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Kathleen Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 851st of 1099 Middle schoolsRanks 1040th of 1177 Middle schools
 10.9%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Kathleen Middle School)3733
 4%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4843
 5%
   6th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5452
 2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Kathleen Middle School)3623
 13%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Polk)4737
 10%
   6th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5549
 6%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Kathleen Middle School)2926
 3%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4238
 4%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5248
 4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Kathleen Middle School)3827
 11%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Polk)3935
 4%
   7th Grade Mathematics (Florida)5446
 8%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Kathleen Middle School)4528
 17%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Polk)4841
 7%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Florida)5649
 7%
8th Grade Mathematics (Kathleen Middle School)2832
 4%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Polk)3532
 3%
   8th Grade Mathematics (Florida)4642
 4%
8th Grade Science (Kathleen Middle School)4023
 17%
   8th Grade Science (Polk)4133
 8%
   8th Grade Science (Florida)4844
 4%
End of Course Civics (Kathleen Middle School)6454
 10%
   End of Course Civics (Polk)7065
 5%
   End of Course Civics (Florida)7166
 5%
End of Course Algebra 1 (Kathleen Middle School)7771
 6%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Polk)5141
 10%
   End of Course Algebra 1 (Florida)6254
 8%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students645821
 27.3%
African American156148
 5.1%
American Indian10
 100%
Asian23
 50%
Hispanic194333
 71.6%
Pacific Islander10
 100%
White281314
 11.7%
Two or More Races1023
 130%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients64.2%67.8%
 3.7%


Schools Near Kathleen Middle School









Frequently Asked Questions about Kathleen Middle School

Kathleen Middle School ranks in the bottom 11.3% of Florida middle schools.

In the 2022-23 school year, 821 students attended Kathleen Middle School.

Students at Kathleen Middle School are 41% Hispanic, 38% White, 18% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Students who attend Kathleen Middle School usually go on to attend Kathleen Senior High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Florida Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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